Does a astroid rock or metor contain raidation? Do they contain types of metals in them?

Question

I read a myth story or folklore about Joan of Arch and they refer to a sword that fell from the heaveans. It was a rock that fell from the sky and a blacksmith made a sword out of it. Correct me if I am wrong but if astroids have like nickel and dime metal or iron, (I can't remember which ones) can you melt it down and break it down and make a sword out of it? And if it has some kind of radiation in it that would make the sword science fiction kind of fantasy cool in a way. I was just curious in a day-dream kind of way.

Answer 1

Argghhh!!!

Now that I've finished screaming: a few facts.

Some meteors are made of iron and nickel.  These are the most common metals found in meteorites.  This is why the core of the earth is iron-nickel.  

In the past, before iron could be smelted, people occasionally came across iron nickel meteorites.  There are a number of surviving artifacts made from meteorites.  Undoubtedly swords and other weapons were beat out of that strange metal.  Such weapons would be superior to the copper and bronze weapons at the time and would have great value both militarily and symbolically.  

The sword would be an iron sword.  Nothing else. NO mystical powers.  Such things do not exist.  Perhaps its owner, knowing the sword came from metal from the sky would BELIEVE it had mystical properties.  Often when you believe something like that you will act in a more courageous manner and unless you get killed, you might win more victories.  Hence the mystique of the sword in your eyes and in your followers is enhanced.  Many swords probably had powerful reputations based on the skills of their previous owners.  Such a thing does have powerful psychological value.

Answer 2

you are kidding me, right?

okay... to answer your question, there are basically two types of meteorites... carbonaceous and ferric.  As you might guess... the Ferric type contains iron and many other elements.

It wouldnt surprise me if some of them WERE radioactive, as I remember tests done on the age of some of them.

Answer 3

Yes to both questions.  Radiation is found everywhere in the universe -- in fact, you're currently being bombarding with long wave doses of it from all the electronics, metals, etc. in your home (mostly radio waves).  Fortunately, radiation isn't harmful unless it's a high dose of short wave radiation -- Ultraviolet, X-ray, Gamma, etc.  Gamma waves are the ones that really mess you up.

Many asteroids have an iron core.  Some contain mostly carbon (IIRC), however.

Maybe Joan of Arc's sword was made from the core of a large meteor (I seriously doubt that)... or maybe it's just a myth (this one).  Either way, she was still a raving lunatic who suffered from schizophrenia.